Three bowlers apiece from both Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab went for 40 runs or more on a pitch that Kieron Pollard described as a graveyard for the bowlers. The belters that the Wankhede stadium is renowned to produce, stayed true to its nature and provided the stage for a high-scoring thriller. There were plenty of fireworks from either teams. Wriddhiman Saha, asked to open, essayed a brilliant 93 while Glenn Maxwell and Martin Guptill came up with whirlwind knocks. There were explosions from the other side too - bludgeoning half-centuries from Lendl Simmons and Kieron Pollard along with fiery 30s from Parthiv Patel and Hardik Pandya. But what mattered most in the end were two tight overs in a pressure-cooker situation.

Among the bowlers who went in excess of 40 were Mohit Sharma and Sandeep Sharma. Mohit had borne the brunt of the attack when the MI openers helped the side race past 90 in less than 10 overs and was also guilty of putting down Lendl Simmons, who capitalised on the miss to continue his love affair with Wankhede. Sandeep too had an expensive beginning, having an economy of nine after his first two overs. There was a shift in tide when Mumbai lost top-order wickets in quick succession and slipped to 121 for 4 from a commanding 99 for 0, in the space of five overs. But a belligerent Pollard and an equally punishing Hardik added another twist to the tale by making a mockery of the KXIP attack, and 108 required off 42 balls became 56 off 24.

It was at this stage that both Sandeep and Mohit were reintroduced into the attack. While Sandeep provided a much-needed respite by accounting for Hardik, he still ended up conceding 17 off his third over that kept Mumbai well in the hunt. This was followed by another expensive over from Mohit, who was hit for a six and two fours by Karn Sharma, and although he managed to dismiss him, a 16-run over had brought it down to an achievable 23 off 12. what followed was the steely nerve of both Sandeep and Mohit, who produced two brilliant overs that overshadowed Pollard's blitzkrieg and ensured KXIP lived to fight another day.

With Harbhajan Singh for company, and a sapping Mumbai humidity that came as a further challenge, a tiring Pollard had to shoulder the responsibility of seeing Mumbai through. He was running hard between wickets and trying to take the game close even as Sandeep sneaked in an economical penultimate over. It was similar to the 19th over that Mitchell McClenaghan had bowled, conceding only seven runs with a tired-looking Saha and Axar Patel not able to tee away as well as they would have liked. Still, they managed to push KXIP to a commanding total of 230, courtesy a 16-run final over.

Mumbai Indians required the same number of runs in their final over and Mohit, who had already conceded 49 off his earlier three, didn't inspire much confidence, especially after being hit for a six by Pollard off his second delivery. All this while, he had tried several variations to no avail, but hope did not desert him and neither did the yorkers, which he executed brilliantly and managed to keep Pollard at arm's length.

"The captain was speaking to the bowler in the last over. Pollard was hitting well but he was also tired. We we thought if we can bowl good yorkers, it would be tough for him. Even when we were batting, they bowled well in the death and we couldn't hit that well, we were also tired. Initially, Mohit tried to bowl to his strength, he tried the knuckle ball. But after being hit for a six he followed the team plan and executed it well," explained Saha of what transpired in the final moments of the match. "It was a roller-coaster ride, they also batted well at the start. We came back well in the middle overs and picked up wickets and then Pollard and Hardik Pandya batted well. It was getting close and our plan was to take it till the end," he added.

This is the second time in as many games that both Mohit and Sandeep have managed to deliver under pressure. Two must-win games - against KKR and MI - done and dusted, KXIP now head to Pune to attempt a hat-trick and keep their hopes afloat. Their nothing to lose attitude has served the team well thus far and Saha hopes that this approach will continue. "Before getting into this match, be it batting or fielding, our target was to play like there's nothing to lose. Execute our plans in all departments, play our natural game and not worry about the outcome. This attitude has helped us defeat KKR and MI. We'll try to play in the same manner in the last match against Pune," he said.

Meanwhile, the loss has meant that MI's hopes of a top-two finish - that provides the luxury of two attempts at making it to the final - has not materialised yet. Despite their two back-to-back losses after a superb run that ensured their qualification, MI aren't running out of steam close to the business end, reckons Pollard, who feels the fighting performance against KXIP will hold them in good stead for their future assignments.

"This just proves that we are humans, we can't win each and every game. But I said we need to keep improving, we had a dismal performance against Sunrisers but I think we bounced back pretty well here. And we fought. There's no need to panic, we keep our heads high, we've qualified, the first step in any tournament is to qualify. We have taken our foot off the gas and it just shows that we can make mistakes as well. We lost two games in a row, but (if) we pick up momentum and win the next three, then you're actually experiencing the championship feeling," Pollard said.